Kyoung Bo Lee1, Bo Ra Kim2, Kang Seong Lee3. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, St. Vincent Hospital, Korea. 2. Department of Physical Therapy, Gyeong-in Rehabilitation Center Hospital, Korea. 3. Department of Rehabilitation Technology, Hanseo University, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The feet make the initial contact with the ground when walking and critically control both posture and gait. Claw toe, a structural change in the foot that may develop after stroke, triggers functional changes affecting both the lower limbs and balance. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the effects of a toe spreader on foot pressure and gait in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: We enrolled 25 stroke patients. We used Gaitview AFA-50 and GAITRite instruments to measure plantar pressure distribution and gait with and without a toe spreader. RESULTS: The average and rear foot pressures increased somewhat when a toe spreader was used. However, the differences were not significant in post hoc tests. In terms of gait, all variables significantly improved when the toe spreader was used. CONCLUSIONS: A toe spreader may improve overall gait and spatiotemporal gait parameters in chronic stroke patients.
BACKGROUND: The feet make the initial contact with the ground when walking and critically control both posture and gait. Claw toe, a structural change in the foot that may develop after stroke, triggers functional changes affecting both the lower limbs and balance. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the effects of a toe spreader on foot pressure and gait in chronic strokepatients. METHODS: We enrolled 25 strokepatients. We used Gaitview AFA-50 and GAITRite instruments to measure plantar pressure distribution and gait with and without a toe spreader. RESULTS: The average and rear foot pressures increased somewhat when a toe spreader was used. However, the differences were not significant in post hoc tests. In terms of gait, all variables significantly improved when the toe spreader was used. CONCLUSIONS: A toe spreader may improve overall gait and spatiotemporal gait parameters in chronic strokepatients.